Heat-curable eproxy resin composition

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to compositions containing at least one epoxy resin A with on average more than one epoxy group per molecule; at least one epoxy adduct B with on average one epoxy group per molecule; at least one thixotropic agent C, based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing support material; and at least one curing agent D for epoxy resins, which is activated by an increased temperature. According to preferred embodiments, the invention also relates to compositions containing at least one core-shell polymer E and/or filler F and/or reactive diluent G. The invention also relates to the use of said compositions as a single-component adhesive and to a method for producing the compositions. The invention further relates to the use of the thixotropic agent C, based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing support material as an agent for increasing the impact resistance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to heat-cured compositions which are distinguished by both high impact strength and a high glass transition temperature at the same time, and which in particular can be used as one-component adhesives.

PRIOR ART

High-quality adhesives are increasingly used in manufacture of both vehicles and mounted parts or machinery and equipment, either instead of or in combination with conventional joining methods such as riveting and punching or welding. This results in advantages and new options for manufacturing, for example manufacture of composite and hybrid materials, or greater freedom in designing components. For use in vehicle manufacture, adhesives must have good adhesion to all substrates used, in particular electrogalvanized, hot-dip galvanized, and subsequently phosphatized sheet steel, lubricated sheet steel, as well as various types of aluminum. These good adhesion properties must also be maintained in particular after aging (alternating climate, salt spray bath, etc.) with no major loss in quality. If the adhesives are used as bodyshell adhesives, then the wash resistance of this adhesive is of considerable importance in order to assure process reliability at the manufacturer's facilities.

Wash resistance can be achieved with or without pregelling. To achieve sufficient wash resistance,

the adhesive can be pasty and pregelled in a bodyshell oven within a short time or via induction heating of the parts to be joined.

Bodyshell adhesives must be cured under conventional baking conditions, ideally for 30 minutes at 180° C. Furthermore, they must also be stable up to about 220° C. Other requirements for such a cured adhesive or the bond are that operational reliability is ensured both at high temperatures up to about 85° C. and at low temperatures down to about −40° C. Since these adhesives are structural adhesives and thus these adhesives bond structural parts, high strength of the adhesive is of utmost importance.

Conventional epoxy adhesives are distinguished by high mechanical strength, in particular high tensile strength and high tensile shear strength. When the bond is subjected to impact loading, however, conventional epoxy adhesives are usually too brittle; and so under crash conditions, when both high tensile and high peel stresses occur, they are far from able to meet the requirements of the automobile industry in particular. They also have insufficient strengths at high temperatures and in particular at low temperatures.

Various approaches have been suggested to reduce the brittleness of epoxy adhesives under impact loading. Essentially two methods have been suggested in the literature for improving the impact strength of epoxy adhesives. First, the goal can be achieved by addition of at least partially crosslinked high molecular weight compounds such as latexes of core/shell polymers or other flexibilizing polymers and copolymers. Secondly, some increase in strength can also be achieved by introducing soft segments, e.g., by appropriate modification of the epoxy components.

According to the first method mentioned above, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,857 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,509 describe how epoxy resins can be made impact resistant by mixing a fine powdered core/shell polymer into the epoxy matrix.

This results in formation of highly elastic domains in the hard brittle epoxy matrix, which increase the impact strength. U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,857 describes such core/shell polymers based on acrylate or methacrylate polymers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,509 describes similar compositions based on ionically crosslinked polymer particles, where the core polymer consists of crosslinked diene monomers and the shell copolymer consists of crosslinked acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers.

According to the second method mentioned above, the patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,645 describes epoxy resin compositions which were flexibilized by reaction with aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic carboxylic acids, in particular dimeric or trimeric fatty acids, as well as with aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diols. Such compositions should be distinguished by increased flexibility, in particular at low temperatures.

Modification of epoxy adhesives by means of polyurethane/epoxy adducts is also known. In this case, the terminal isocyanate groups of the prepolymers are reacted with at least one epoxy resin, where a hot-melt adhesive is obtained that is solid at room temperature. This method is described in EP 0 343 676.

It is also known that epoxy resins can be flexibilized with elastomers such as synthetic rubbers and their derivatives. The major effect in this case is based on the only partial miscibility of epoxy resins and the corresponding derivatized synthetic rubbers, where as a result heterodisperse phases are formed during the manufacturing process that have an effect comparable to the effect of core/shell polymers. Establishment of this superstructure depends on both the quantitative composition and on process control during the cure process. In the literature known to the person skilled in the art, carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene/acrylonitrile copolymers, which are reacted with epoxy resins, are described as particularly preferred starting compounds for this flexibilizing method.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,278,257 and WO 0 037 554 describe epoxy adhesive formulations which contain as major components adducts with epoxy end groups, produced by reaction of carboxyl-terminated butadiene/acrylonitrile or butadiene/methacrylate compounds (or their styrene copolymers) with epoxy resins, as well as phenol-terminated polyurethanes or polyureas. Such adhesives can have high parameter values under peel, impact, or impact/peel loading.

A considerable drawback of the prior art is generally that by increasing the impact strength, the glass transition temperature and/or the strength of the adhesive is reduced; or that by raising the glass transition temperature, the strength is indeed increased as a rule but the impact strength, as well as the adhesion and especially the peel strength, is reduced. This situation severely limits use as a structural bodyshell adhesive, in particular because extremely high demands are made on a crash-resistant adhesive.

Additionally, the use of liquid rubbers is quite disadvantageous, since it means that the extent of phase separation and thus also the improvement of impact strength depends very much on the manufacturing or cure conditions, leading to considerable variations in the properties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to provide novel one-component heat-cured compositions, in particular adhesives and hot-melt adhesives, that are stable at room temperature and that on the one hand have high strength and on the other hand have a high glass transition temperature, advantageously a glass transition temperature of at least 85° C. This is achieved in particular without use of liquid rubbers and without the dependences on the manufacturing or cure conditions that are associated with such use.

These properties are particularly important in order to ensure a bond even in the case of an accident (a crash) and to thereby meet modern safety requirements for vehicle construction.

This goal could surprisingly be achieved by the composition according to the invention as specified by claim 1. In particular, it was unexpectedly shown that, particularly by using a thixotropic agent based on urea derivatives in a non-diffusing carrier which is described in patent application EP 1 152 019 A1, a very considerable improvement in impact strength can be achieved. It was also unexpected that the epoxy adduct used in claim 1, optimized with respect to glass transition temperature, did not cause the expected decrease in impact strength.

This invention relates to compositions which contain at least one epoxy resin A with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one epoxy adduct B with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one thixotropic agent C based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier; and at least one curing agent D for epoxy resins which is activated by elevated temperature.

According to preferred embodiments, compositions are also described that in addition contain at least one core/shell polymer E and/or at least one filler F and/or at least one reactive diluent G.

The use of this composition as a one-component adhesive as well as a process for manufacture of the composition are also described.

In addition, the use of the thixotropic agent C based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier as a means to increase impact strength is described.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to compositions which contain at least one epoxy resin A with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one epoxy adduct B with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one thixotropic agent C based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier; and at least one curing agent D for epoxy resins which is activated by elevated temperature.

The epoxy resin A has more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average. 2, 3, or 4 epoxy groups per molecule are preferred. Epoxy resin A is preferably a liquid resin, in particular diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-F, as well as diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A/F (the designation “A/F” here refers to a mixture of acetone and formaldehyde used as the starting material in its manufacture). Because of the manufacturing process for these resins, clearly higher molecular weight components are also contained in the liquid resins. Such liquid resins are available, for example, as Araldite GY 250, Araldite PY 304, Araldite GY 282 (Vantico), or D.E.R. 331 (Dow).

The epoxy adduct B is an epoxy adduct of type B1 and optionally B2.

The epoxy adduct B1 can be obtained by reaction of at least one dicarboxylic acid, preferably at least one dimeric fatty acid, in particular at least one dimeric C4-C20 fatty acid (corresponding to a C8-C40 dicarboxylic acid) with at least one diglycidyl ether, in particular bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether, or bisphenol-A/F diglycidyl ether. The epoxy adduct B1 has a flexibilizing character.

The epoxy adduct B2 can be obtained by reaction of at least one bis(aminophenyl)sulfone isomer or at least one aromatic alcohol with at least one diglycidyl ether. The aromatic

alcohol is preferably selected from the group of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (=bisphenol-A), bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane (=bisphenol-F), bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, hydroquinone, resorcinol, pyrocatechol, naphthohydroquinone, naphthoresorcinol, dihydroxynaphthalene, dihydroxyanthraquinone, dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)phthalide, 5,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexahydro-4,7-methanoindane, as well as all isomers of the aforementioned compounds. The preferred bis(aminophenyl)sulfone isomers are bis(4-aminophenyl)sulfone and bis(3-aminophenyl)sulfone. The diglycidyl ether is in particular bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether, or bisphenol-A/F diglycidyl ether. Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone is suitable as a particularly preferred aromatic alcohol. The epoxy adduct B2 has a rather rigid structure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, epoxy adduct B is a combination of epoxy adduct B1 and epoxy adduct B2.

Epoxy adduct B preferably has a molecular weight of 700-6000 g/mol, preferably 900-4000 g/mol, in particular 1000-3300 g/mol. Here and in the following, by “molecular weight” we mean the mean molecular weight M_(w).

The epoxy adduct B is prepared in a way known to the person skilled in the art.

The total proportion of epoxy resin A is advantageously 12-50 wt. %, preferably 17-45 wt. %, based on the sum of the weights A+B.

Here and in the following, by “total proportion” in each case we mean the sum of all the components belonging to the given category. For example, if a composition contains 2 epoxy resins A, then the total proportion is the sum of these two epoxy resins.

Additionally, the total proportion of epoxy resin A and epoxy adduct B together is advantageously 20-70 wt. %, preferably 35-65 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.

The person skilled in the art can use a known catalyst for synthesis of the epoxy adduct, such as for example triphenylphosphine.

In addition, the composition contains at least one thixotropic agent C, based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier. This thixotropic agent C advantageously contains a blocked polyurethane prepolymer as a carrier. Preparation of such urea derivatives and carrier materials is described in detail in the patent application EP 1 152 019 A1.

The urea derivative is a product of reaction between an aromatic monomeric diisocyanate and an aliphatic amine compound. It is also quite possible to react several different monomeric diisocyanates with one or more aliphatic amine compounds, or to react one monomeric diisocyanate with several aliphatic amine compounds. The reaction product of 4,4′-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate (MDI) and butylamine has proven to be particularly advantageous.

The total proportion of thixotropic agent C is advantageously 5-40 wt. %, preferably 10-25 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition. The proportion of the urea derivative is advantageously 5-50 wt. %, preferably 15-30 wt. %, based on the weight of the thixotropic agent C.

The composition according to the invention additionally contains at least one curing agent D for epoxy resins which is activated at elevated temperature. Here the curing agent is preferably selected from the group of dicyanodiamide, guanamine, guanidine, aminoguanidine, and derivatives thereof. In addition, substituted ureas such as phenyl dimethylureas, in particular p-chlorophenyl-N,N-dimethylurea (monuron), 3-phenyl-1,1-dimethylurea (fenuron), or 3,4-dichlorophenyl-N,N-dimethylurea (diuron) are catalytically effective. Compounds in the class of imidazole and amine complexes can also be used. Dicyanodiamide is particularly preferred.

The total proportion of curing agent D is advantageously 1-6 wt. %, preferably 2-4 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.

In another embodiment, the composition according to the invention contains in addition at least one core/shell polymer E. The core of the core/shell polymer preferably consists of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of −30° C. or lower, and the shell of the core/shell polymer preferably consists of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of 70° C. or higher. Examples of polymers that can be used as the core material are polybutadiene, polyacrylic acid ester, and polymethacrylic acid ester as well as their copolymers or terpolymers with polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, or polysulfide. The core material preferably contains polybutadiene or polybutylacrylate. Examples of shell polymers are polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylate and polymethacrylate monomers, copolymers, or terpolymers, or styrene/acrylonitrile/glycidyl methacrylate terpolymers. Polymethylmethacrylate is preferably used as the polymer for the shells. The particle size of such core/shell polymers is appropriately 0.05-30 μm, preferably 0.05-15 μm. Core/shell polymers of particle size smaller than 3 μm are used in particular. Core/shell polymers are preferably used that contain a core of polybutadiene or polybutadiene/polystyrene. This core material is preferably partially crosslinked. Other core materials are polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, in particular polyacrylic acid ester and polymethacrylic acid ester as well as their copolymers or terpolymers.

The shells preferably consist of polymers based on methylmethacrylate, methacrylic acid cyclohexyl ester, acrylic acid butyl ester, styrene, or methacrylonitrile.

Commercially available core/shell polymer products are, for example, F-351 (Zeon Chemicals), Paraloid and Acryloid (Röhm and Haas), Blendex (GE Specialty Chemicals), and the like.

The total proportion of the core/shell polymer E is advantageously 3-20 wt. %, preferably 5-12 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition in addition contains at least one filler F. Here the filler is preferably mica, talc, kaolin, wollastonite, feldspar, chlorite, bentonite, montmorillonite, calcium carbonate (precipitated or ground), dolomite, quartz, silicic acids (pyrogenic or precipitated), cristobalite, calcium oxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium oxide, hollow ceramic spheres, hollow glass spheres, hollow organic spheres, glass spheres, colored pigments. As the filler F, we mean both organic coated and uncoated commercially available forms known to the person skilled in the art.

The total proportion of total filler F is advantageously 5-30 wt. %, preferably 10-25 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.

In another preferred embodiment, the composition in addition contains at least one reactive diluent G with epoxy groups. This reactive diluent G is in particular:

-   -   Glycidyl ether of monofunctional saturated or unsaturated,         branched or unbranched, cyclic or open-chain C4-C30 alcohols,         e.g. butyl glycidyl ether, hexyl glycidyl ether, 2-ethylhexyl         glycidyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether, tetrahydrofurfuryl         glycidyl ether, and furfuryl glycidyl ether, etc.     -   Glycidyl ether of difunctional saturated or unsaturated,         branched or unbranched, cyclic or open-chain C2-C30 alcohols,         e.g. ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl         ether, hexanediol diglycidyl ether, octanediol diglycidyl ether,         cyclohexane dimethanol diglycidyl ether, neopentyl glycol         diglycidyl ether, etc.     -   Glycidyl ether of trifunctional or polyfunctional, saturated or         unsaturated, branched or unbranched, cyclic or open-chain         alcohols such as epoxidized castor oil, epoxidized         trimethylolpropane, epoxidized pentaerythrol, or polyglycidyl         ether of aliphatic polyols such as sorbitol, etc.     -   Glycidyl ether of phenol compounds and aniline compounds such as         phenyl glycidyl ether, cresyl glycidyl ether, p-tert-butyl         phenyl glycidyl ether, nonylphenyl glycidyl ether,         3-n-pentadecenyl glycidyl ether (from cashew nut shell oil),         N,N-diglycidyl aniline, etc.     -   Epoxidized tertiary amines such as N,N-diglycidyl         cyclohexylamine, etc.     -   Epoxidized monocarboxylic acids or dicarboxylic acids such as         neodecanoic acid glycidyl ester, methacrylic acid glycidyl         ester, benzoic acid glycidyl ester, phthalic acid diglycidyl         ester, tetrahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl ester and         hexahydrophthalic acid diglycidyl ester, diglycidyl ester of         dimeric fatty acids, etc.     -   Epoxidized difunctional or trifunctional, low molecular weight         or high molecular weight polyether polyols such as polyethylene         glycol diglycidyl ether, polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether,         etc.

Hexanediol diglycidyl ether, polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, and polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether are particularly preferred.

The total proportion of reactive diluent G with epoxy groups is advantageously 1-7 wt. %, preferably 2-6 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.

Use of the composition as one-component adhesives has proven to be particularly successful. Heat-cured one-component adhesives can be prepared this way that in particular are distinguished by both high impact strength and also a high glass transition temperature. Such adhesives are needed for bonding heat-stable materials. By heat-stable materials we mean materials that, for a cure temperature of 120° C.-220° C., preferably 150° C.-200° C.,

are shape-stable at least during the cure time. Here the heat-stable materials are metals and plastics such as ABS, polyamide, polyphenylene ether, composite materials such as SMC, glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyesters, epoxy or acrylate composites. A preferred use is when at least one material is a metal. A particularly preferred use is bonding of identical or different metals, in particular in bodyshells in the automobile industry. Preferred metals are especially steel, in particular electrogalvanized steel, hot-dip galvanized steel, lubricated steel, and subsequently phosphatized steel as well as aluminum, in particular the types commonly used in automobile construction.

The desired combination of high crash strength and high operating temperature can especially be achieved with an adhesive based on a composition according to the invention.

Such an adhesive is cured with the materials to be bonded in contact and typically at a temperature of 120° C.-220° C., preferably 150°-200° C.

Of course, in addition to heat-cured adhesives, sealants or coatings can also be prepared. Furthermore, the compositions according to the invention are not only suitable for automobile construction but are also suitable for other areas of application. Particularly obvious are related applications in construction of means of transportation such as ships, trucks, buses, or track vehicles, or in construction of consumer goods such as, for example, washing machines.

Hot-melt adhesives specifically can also be prepared on the basis of the composition according to the invention. Here the hydroxy groups in the epoxy adduct are reacted with isocyanate groups or isocyanate prepolymers. The viscosity is increased as a result, and application of heat is required.

EXAMPLES

A few examples are given below which illustrate the invention further but do not limit the scope of the invention in any way. The raw materials used in the examples are as follows: Raw materials used Supplier Dimerized C18 fatty acid (Pripol 1013) Uniquema Adipic acid BASF 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane Fluka AG Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone Fluka AG Bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether (= DGEBA) Vantico Polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether (ED-506) Asahi-Denka Kogyo Dicyanodiamide (= Dicy) Degussa Polypropylene ether polyol (M_(w) = 2000 g/mol) Bayer Isophorone diisocyanate (= IPDI) Degussa-Hüls Caprolactam EMS Chemie N-Butylamine BASF 4,4′-Diphenylmethylene diisocyanate (= MDI) Bayer Core/shell polymer (F-351) Zeon Triphenylphosphine Fluka Dibutyltin dilaurate Witco Europe

General preparation for preparing epoxy adduct B and its mixture with A (=A/B premix):

A/B Premix PM1

Under vacuum and with stirring at 110° C., 123.9 g of a dimeric fatty acid, 1.1 g triphenylphosphine, and 57.3 g adipic acid were reacted for 5 hours with 658 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin, with epoxy content of 5.45 eq/kg, until a constant epoxy concentration of 2.85 eq/kg was achieved. After the end of the reaction, an additional 118.2 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin was added to the reaction mixture.

Then other mixtures PM2 to PM4 were prepared. For this purpose, the adipic acid was replaced by various aromatic alcohols in such a way that a theoretically identical epoxy content of 2.80-2.95 eq/kg was achieved in the binder:

A/B Premix PM2

Under vacuum and with stirring at 110° C., 123.9 g of a dimeric fatty acid, 1.1 g triphenylphosphine, and 95.0 g 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (=bisphenol-A) were reacted for 5 hours with 658 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin with epoxy content of 5.45 eq/kg, until a constant epoxy concentration of 2.95 eq/kg was achieved. After the end of the reaction, an additional 118.2 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin was added to the reaction mixture.

A/B Premix PM3

Under vacuum and with stirring at 110° C., 123.9 g of a dimeric fatty acid and 28.3 g adipic acid, 1.1 g triphenylphosphine, and 47.3 g bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone were reacted for 5 hours with 658 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin with epoxy content of 5.45 eq/kg, until a constant epoxy concentration of 2.85 eq/kg was achieved. After the end of the reaction, an additional 118.2 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin was added to the reaction mixture.

A/B Premix PM4

Under vacuum and with stirring at 110° C., 123.9 g of a dimeric fatty acid, 1.1 g triphenylphosphine, and 71.3 g bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone were reacted for 5 hours with 658 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin with epoxy content of 5.45 eq/kg, until a constant epoxy concentration of 2.82 eq/kg was achieved. After the end of the reaction, an additional 118.2 g of liquid DGEBA epoxy resin was added to the reaction mixture.

Thixotropic Agent C

The thixotropic agent C was prepared as specified in patent application EP 1 152 019 A1 in a blocked prepolymer with the above-mentioned raw materials:

Carrier: Blocked Polyurethane Prepolymer:

Under vacuum and with stirring at 90° C. in the presence of 0.08 g dibutyltin dilaurate, 600.0 g of a polyether polyol (2000 g/mol; OH-number, 57 mg/g KOH) was reacted with 140.0 g IPDI to form the isocyanate-terminated prepolymer, until the isocyanate content remained constant. Then the free isocyanate groups were blocked with caprolactam (2% excess).

Urea Derivative (UD1) in Blocked Polyurethane Prepolymer:

Under nitrogen and with gentle heating, 68.7 g MDI flakes were melted in 181.3 g of the blocked prepolymer described above. Then 40.1 g N-butylamine dissolved in 219.9 g of the blocked prepolymer described above was added dropwise over a two-hour period, under nitrogen and with rapid stirring. After addition of the amine solution was complete, the white paste was stirred for another 30 minutes. Then after cooling down, a soft white paste was obtained which had a free isocyanate content of <0.1% (proportion of urea derivative, about 21%).

More carrier can be added to this mixture if needed. For example, another 4 g of carrier (=blocked prepolymer) was added for the Examples.

Adhesive Formulations

Various adhesive compositions were prepared as specified in Table 1. The adhesives were cured after application at 50° C. for 30 minutes in an oven at 180° C. All the tests were carried out only after cooling the adhesive down to room temperature.

Test Methods:

Glass Transition Temperature Tg (DIN EN ISO 6721-2/DIN EN 61006)

The test pieces with dimensions 50×10 mm were punched out of a 2 mm thick sheet of adhesive which had been cured for 30 minutes at 180° C. between two pieces of teflon film.

Measurement: Oscillation 1 Hz, temperature range −50° C. to +150° C., heating rate 2° K/Min. The glass transition temperature Tg was determined at the maximum of the mechanical loss factor (tangent δ) curve.

Tensile Shear Strength TSS (DIN EN 1465)

The test pieces were prepared with electrogalvanized steel (eloZn) with dimensions 100×25×0.8 mm, where the adhesion surface area was 25×10 mm with a layer thickness of 0.3 mm. It was cured for 30 min at 180° C. The pull rate was 10 mm/min.

Impact Peel (ISO 11343)

The test pieces were prepared with electrogalvanized steel (eloZn) with dimensions 90×25×0.8 mm, where the adhesion surface area was 25×30 mm with a layer thickness of 0.3 mm. It was cured for 30 min at 180° C. The impact velocity was 2 m/s.

Results

The results of the adhesive formulations in Table 1 show that the combination of high impact strength, high glass transition temperature, and high strength can be achieved with the compositions according to the invention. Examples 1 and 7, which are not according to the invention, compared with Examples 2 and 6 show especially clearly the positive effect of the thixotropic agent, i.e., the urea derivative, on the impact strength. Examples 2 to 6 show the effect of the epoxy adduct used, so that both an increase in the impact strength and a rise in Tg can be realized at the same time by the invention, while the tensile shear strength remains unchanged. Examples 9 and 10, compared with Examples 2 and 6, show that the desired properties can be achieved regardless of whether the composition is filled or unfilled. Examples 8 and 6 show that the presence of a core/shell polymer has a positive effect on the impact strength, although the effect is less than for the thixotropic agent, i.e., the urea derivative. TABLE 1 Examples of compositions and results Example 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 □Notes Reference Reference unfilled unfilled A/B-PM1 [g} 52.0 52.0 — — 26.0 — — — 52.0 — A/B-PM2 [g] — — 52.0 — — — — — — — A/B-PM3 [g] — — — 52.0 — — — — — — A/B-PM4 [g] — — — — 26.0 52.0 52.0 52.0 — 52.0 ED-506 (G) [g] 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 UD1 [g] — 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 — 2.7 2.7 2.7 Blocked prepolymer [g] 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 Dicy (D) [g] 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 Core/shell polymer 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 — 6.5 6.5 (F351) (E) [g] Filler mix (F)[g] 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 17.0 — — Tg [° C.] 59.0 61.0 73.0 74.0 74.0 90.0 89.0 91.0 62.0 88.0 Impact-Peel 0.25 0.46 0.42 0.54 0.53 0.58 0.36 0.52 0.47 0.52 [kN] Tensile shear strength 21.4 21.3 21.3 21.4 21.3 21.9 21.0 21.3 21.6 22.1 [MPa] 

1. Composition comprising at least one epoxy resin A with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one epoxy adduct B, each with more than one epoxy group per molecule on the average; at least one thixotropic agent C, based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier; at least one curing agent D for epoxy resins which is activated by elevated temperature.
 2. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the epoxy resin A is a liquid resin, in particular a bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether, or bisphenol-A/F diglycidyl ether.
 3. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the epoxy adduct B is an epoxy adduct B1, which can be obtained from at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diglycidyl ether; and is optionally combined with an epoxy adduct B2, which can be obtained from at least one bis(aminophenyl)sulfone isomer or at least one aromatic alcohol and at least one diglycidyl ether.
 4. Composition as in claim 3, distinguished by the fact that for preparation of the epoxy adduct B1, a dimeric fatty acid, in particular at least one dimeric C4-C20 fatty acid, is used as the dicarboxylic acid and bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether, or bisphenol-A/F diglycidyl ether is used as the diglycidyl ether.
 5. Composition as in claim 3, distinguished by the fact that preparation of the epoxy adduct B2 uses an aromatic alcohol selected from the group 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, hydroquinone, resorcinol, pyrocatechol, naphthohydroquinone, naphthoresorcinol, dihydroxynaphthalene, dihydroxyanthraquinone, dihydroxybiphenyl, 3,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)phthalide, 5,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hexahydro-4,7-methanoindane, as well as all isomers of the aforementioned compounds, or [sic]¹, and bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-F diglycidyl ether, or bisphenol-A/F diglycidyl ether as the diglycidyl ether.
 6. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the epoxy adduct B has a molecular weight of 700-6000 g/mol, preferably 900-4000 g/mol, in particular 1000-3300 g/mol.
 7. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the carrier for the thixotropic agent C is a blocked polyurethane prepolymer.
 8. Composition as in claim 7, distinguished by the fact that the urea derivative in the thixotropic agent C is the product of reaction between an aromatic monomeric diisocyanate, in particular 4,4′-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate, and an aliphatic amine compound, in particular butylamine.
 9. Composition as in claim 1 distinguished by the fact that the curing agent D is a latent curing agent from the group dicyanodiamide, guanamine, guanidine, and aminoguanidine.
 10. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of epoxy resin A and epoxy adduct B together is 20-70 wt. %, preferably 35-65 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.
 11. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of epoxy resin A is 12-50 wt. %, preferably 17-45 wt. %, based on the sum of the weights for A+B.
 12. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of the thixotropic agent C is 5-40 wt-%, preferably 10-25 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.
 13. Composition as in claim 12, distinguished by the fact that the proportion of the urea derivative is 5-50 wt. %, preferably 15-30 wt. %, based on the weight of the thixotropic agent C.
 14. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of the curing agent D is 1-6 wt-%, preferably 2-4 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.
 15. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that in addition, at least one core/shell polymer E is present.
 16. Composition as in claim 15, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of the core/shell polymer E is 3-20 wt. %, preferably 5-12 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.
 17. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the core of the core/shell polymer E consists of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of −30° C. or lower, and the shell of the core/shell polymer E consists of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of 70° C. or higher.
 18. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that in addition, at least one filler F is present.
 19. Composition as in claim 18, distinguished by the fact that the total proportion of the filler F is 5-30 wt. %, preferably 10-25 wt. %, based on the weight of the total composition.
 20. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that in addition, at least one reactive diluent G with epoxy groups is present.
 21. Composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the heat-cured composition has a glass transition temperature of at least 85° C.
 22. Process for preparation of a composition as in claim 1, distinguished by the fact that the preparation includes at least one adduct formation step carried out with a diglycidyl ether.
 23. Use of a composition as in claim 1 as a one-component adhesive.
 24. Use as in claim 23, distinguished by the fact that the adhesive is used to bond heat-stable materials, in particular metals.
 25. Use as in claim 23, distinguished by the fact that the adhesive is used as a bodyshell adhesive in automobile construction.
 26. Use of the thixotropic agent C, based on a urea derivative in a non-diffusing carrier, as a means to increase impact strength.
 27. Use of the thixotropic agent C as in claim 26, distinguished by the fact that the carrier C [sic] is a blocked polyurethane prepolymer.
 28. Use of the thixotropic agent C as in claim 26, distinguished by the fact that the urea derivative is the product of reaction between an aromatic monomeric diisocyanate, in particular 4,4′-diphenylmethylene diisocyanate, and an aliphatic amine compound, in particular butylamine.
 29. Use of the thixotropic agent C as in claim 26, distinguished by the fact that the proportion of the urea derivative is 5-50 wt. %, preferably 15-30 wt. %, based on the weight of the thixotropic agent C.
 30. Process for bonding heat-stable materials, in particular metals, distinguished by the fact that these materials are in contact with a composition as in claim 1 and a curing step at a temperature of 120° C.-220° C., preferably 150° C.-200° C., [is] included. 